Combination pike pole and boat hook



Jan. 8, 1963 H. c. JOHNSON 3,072,428

COMBINATION PIKE POLE AND BOAT HOOK Filed Feb. 8, 1961 Fig.2

Harry 6. Johnson 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent Office 3,072,428 Patented Jan. 8, 1963 This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a novel manually usable implement of a convertible multipurpose type and which is expressly, though not necessarily, designed and suitably adapted for use by loggers in the logging industry, the same being characterized by a pike pole and a boat hook combined.

Broadly, the implement comprises a handle of any suitable type equipped with a novel twin-pronged pike, the latter cooperatively associated with an equally novel sleeve. This sleeve is spring-loaded and slidingly and telescopically associated with a specially constructed outer or forward end portion of the handle. More particularly, the sleeve constitutes a unique sheath in which component portions of the pike are sheathed and in this manner concealed when not in use. The sleeve is not only a guard or protector for the pike, it has a laterally projecting member which is fashioned into a practical boat hook. Therefore, the one implement provides a boat hook and a log handling pike pole the features of which may be used singly or collectively, as the prevailing conditions require.

One improvement pertains to the handle provided on its forward or outer end with a pike, the latter having an axial shank with a pointed outer end providing a first prong (or prod) and also provided on one side, inwardly of the prong, with a second but laterally projecting pointed prong capable of use as a cant hook or for any g hooking and handling needs encountered by the user.

Another improvement resides in providing the aforementioned sleeve and constructing the same in such a way that it provides a needed boat hook and encases the two prongs at the time the pike is out of use. Then, too, the same sleeve has facilities for projecting the prongs and securely holding the same in extended position for unhampered use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the improved implement showing the normal relationship of the component parts with the pike sheathed and hidden and the boat hook in readiness for use.

7 FIG. 2 is a view on a larger scale with the parts in section and elevation and illustrating the particular construction and cooperative association thereof.

FIG. 3 is a view on a smaller scale and in side elevation showing the retractile pike prongs extended and meehanically locked in position for use.

Reference is made first to that part of the combination which may be broadly referred to as handling means. More specifically, this means is denoted as a handle 6 which, like the other component parts, may be made either of aluminum, brass or some suitable material recommended by the manufacturer. The expression handle is used here to designate a so-called reach pole or a boat paddle (not detailed) as the case may be. In any event the outer or forward end portion, that is the portion 8 beyond the portion 10, is preferably cylindrical and reduced in cross-section to provide a shoulder as at 12. This reduced portion is provided with an axial bore 14 while the main handle portion is provided with a screwthreaded socket 16. The outer end portion of the reduced part or neck 8 is provided with screw threads 18 and the extreme outer end provides a shoulder 20. A locknut 22, which also functions as a stop nut, is threaded on the screw-threaded portion 18 and is of prerequisite diameter and provided with suitable peripheral grips 24.

The pike 26 is of one-piece construction and is characterized by a linearly straight shank the portion 28 of which is passed through the bore or passage 14 with the screw-threaded end 30 screwed into and anchored in the socket 16. This shank is of suitable material and length and the outer or forward end portion 34 is pointed as at 36 to provide a first prong. Rearwardly or inwardly of this prong the shank is provided with a lateral integral member 38 which is curved to assume the shape of a hook which latter has a pointed terminal end 40. This member 38 constitutes the second prong, the prongs being concealed in FIGS. 1 and 2 and extended for use as shown in FIG. 3.

The aforementioned sleeve is denoted as an entity by the numeral 42 and the rearward body portion 44 is cylindrical in cross section and is enlarged and hollow and defines a socket member. The socket thereof is denoted at 46 and the outer closed end of the socket at 48 and constitutes a shoulder for the adjacent coil 50 of a coil expansion spring 52. This spring 52 encircles the median portion of the shank 28 and the lowermost coil or convolution 54 rests atop or on the shoulder 20 of the reduced portion or neck 8. The lower end 56 of the socket member rests atop the stop nut 22 in the relation ship of parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein, as is evident, the sleeve sheathes the shank as well as the prongs 34 and 38. The median portion of the sleeve is reduced and merges as at 53 into a forward extended tapering end portion 6t), the bore or passage 62 of which sheathes the shank of the pike. A median portion of the part 60 of the sleeve is provided with a lateral hook-shaped extension 64 which is fashioned into and provides a suitable boat hook. 'The outer end of this extension is provided with a ball-like head or knob 66. The upper side of the hook is provided with a slot 68 and the slot is such that it seats and therefore provides a sheath for the so-called second prong 38. The longitudinal side slot in the sleeve portion 60, that is the slot 7% extends forward-1y through the extreme forward ball-like end portion 72 and this slot serves to accommodate the prong 34. The outer end portion 72 is bifurcated and the furcations define a keeper notch or seat 74 therebetween.

It is believed that the component par-ts which go to make up the special purpose pike and boat hook, when considered as an assembly, may be regarded as a multipurpose head, that is a head having facilities offering a boat hook on the one hand and a boat hook and extended simultaneously usable pike on the other hand as shown in FIG. 3.

It is to be assumed that normally the pike with its prongs 34 and 38 is stored or concealed in the sheathing sleeve 42. Consequently the parts are in the relationship best shown in FIG. 2. Under the circumstances a readyto-use boat hook is had. When it is desired to bring the pike into play it is necessary to loosen the nut 22 so that the sheath or sleeve 42 may be slid down on the pike from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3. In other words the nut is loosened and dropped down against the shoulder 12. Then the sleeve or sheath 42 is pulled down against the tension of the spring 52 to assume the general position seen in FIG. 3 and at the same time the pike is turned through an approximate half circle whereupon the projecting prongs 34 and 38 come into play with the hook-like prong 38 then engaged in the keeper seat 74. Consequently this prong 38 becomes a keeper and retainer when in the position illustrated in FIG. 3. In this position the prong 38 is on the left and the boat hook 64 on the right. Therefore the user has at his disposal a handle or reach pole and a novel head construction offering the facilities required when one needs a boat hook and, in addition, a twin pronged pike.

This combination pike pole and boat hook has many advantages over the boat hook that is now generally in use by small boaters in that the pike pole feature can be released when it is desirable to hook on a log or some other object and, when not in use, may be concealed in the spring-loaded sleeve or sheath.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. 7

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A manually usable convertible implement comprising a handle having head means at the leading end of the handle, said head means embodying a fixed hook and a projectible and retractible pike, said pike having selectively usable pointed prongs disposed at right angles to each other, said head means embodying a sheath slidable and rotatable relative to said pike and having component portions in which the prongs of said pike are normally sheathed and safely concealed when retracted.

2. For use by loggers, a multipurpose manually manipulatable implement comprising, in combination, handling means, a pike supported at the outer end of said means, and a sheath normally enclosing and concealing said pike, said sheath being slidable on the pike and, when slid rearwardly, serving to project and render the pike usable, said pike having spaced prongs at right angles to each other, and said sheath having right angularly disposed component portions normally sheathing their respective prongs.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, and wherein one of the component portions of said sheath is provided on a side of the sheath proper and constitutes a boat hook.

4. The structure defined in claim 2, and wherein said boat hook has an enlarged rigid ball on its terminal bill portion and also has a lengthwise groove.

5. For use in the logging industry, a loggers hand implement comprising a handle, a pike having a shank secured at a rearward end to a forward end of said handle and projecting axially therebeyond, the forward end of said shank being pointed and providing a first prong, a sleeve slidably encasing said pike and providing a sheathing and protective guard for said pike, the rearward end of said sleeve being spring-pressed and normally but separably secured to the forward end of the handle and adapted to telescope over said forward end when detached and slid rearwardly against the tension of the spring in a manner to expose and hold the pointed end of the pike in an extended usable position, the forward end of the sleeve being bifurcated and the furcations providing a keeper seat therebetween, and a cooperating portion of the shank having a laterally projecting member providing a keeper which is capable of being positioned and held in said seat.

6. The structure defined in claim 5, and wherein the 7 forward end of said handle is provided with a stop shoulder with which the rearward end of said sleeve is engageable, said shoulder being releasable to permit the sleeve to be slid rearwardly in a manner to telescope over a portion of said forward end.

7. The structure defined in claim 5, and wherein the forward end of said handle is provided with a stop shoulder with which the rearward end of said sleeve is engageable, said shoulder being releasable to permit the sleeve to he slid rearwardly in a manner to telescope over a portion of said forward end, said laterally projecting member comprising a pointed hook, and said sleeve having a laterally projecting hook with a lengthwise groove therein and said pointed hook being removably seated and protectively guarded in said groove.

8. A multipurpose implement for use by a logger comprising a handle having a forward end portion reduced in cross-section and defining a shoulder, the forward end of the reduced portion being externally screw-threaded, a stop nut screwed on said screw-threaded end, a pike having a straight shank joined rigidly to the reduced end portion and projecting axially therefrom and having a distal end which is pointed and constitutes a first prong, said shank provided rearwardly of said distal end with a lateral pointed hook providing a second prong, an elongated sleeve slidingly and rotatably mounted on said shank, the rearward portion of said sleeve being of increased cross-section and providing a socket member for telescopic reception of the aforesaid reduced portion, the rearward end of said socket member abutting said stop nut, the forward end of said socket member being closed and providing a shoulder, a coil spring housed in the socket of said socket member, encircling a cooperating portion of said shank and having its inner end resting against an outer end of the reduced portion and its forward end abutting the last named shoulder, a median portion of the sleeve beyond the socket member having a laterally extending hook which is grooved and serves as a boat hook and also as a sheath in which said second prong is normally sheathed and concealed, an outer end portion of said sleeve having a longitudinal side slot opening at its forward end through the forward end of said sleeve, said second prong extending through said slot and into the groove in said boat hook, and the extreme forward end of said sleeve being bifurcated with the furcations defining a keeper seat for the second prong when the latter is intentionally seated and held therein to function as a keeper.

9. For use in the logging industry, a loggers multipurpose hand implement comprising an elongated handle, said handle having a forward end portion with an axial screw threaded socket, a one-piece rigid pike having a shank telescoping into said socket and with an end portion screwed and retained in said socket, the major portion of said shank projecting axially beyond the forward end of said handle, being lineraly straight and in axial alignment with the axis of the handle and terminating in a point, a median portion of the shank rearwardly of the terminal point being provided with a longitudinally curved lateral pointed hook constituting a cant book, a sleeve slidable and said boat hook having a groove therein and said lateral pointed pike book being normally seated and sheathed in said groove.

10. The structure defined in claim 9 and wherein said side of the sleeve carying the boat hook is provided with a slot opening through the forward end of the sleeve, 0116 end portion of said slot communicating with said groove and said slot permitting the lateral pointed hook of aid pike to slide back and forth therein.

11. A multipurpose implement for use by a logger comprising an elongated rigid handle having a forward end portion provided with a releasable stop, a pike having a straight shank joined rigidly to said forward end portion and projecting axially therefrom and having a distal end pointed and constituting a first prong, said shank being provided rearwardly of said distal end with a lateral longitudinally bowed pointed hook providing a second prong, an elongated sleeve slidingly and rotatably mounted on said shank, a rearward portion of said sleeve providing a socket member for telescopic reception of the forward end portion of said handle, the rearward end of said sleeve abutting said stop, the forward end of said socket member being closed and providing a shoulder, a coil spring encircling a cooperating portion of the shank within the confines of the socket in said socket member with one and resting against the forward end of the handle and the other end against the closed end of said socket member, projecting axial portions of the sleeve beyond the closed end of the socket member providing a sheath and having component portions normally sheathing and protectively shielding the shank and said first and second named prongs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Norcross June 27, 1876 Sullivan et a1 Nov. 28, 1905 Wood Sept. 30, 1913 Studwell Aug. 13, 1929 Mitchell Feb. 5, 1962 

1. A MANUALLY USABLE CONVERTIBLE IMPLEMENT COMPRISING A HANDLE HAVING HEAD MEANS AT THE LEADING END OF THE HANDLE, SAID HEAD MEANS EMBODYING A FIXED HOOK AND A PROJECTIBLE AND RETRACTIBLE PIKE, SAID PIKE HAVING SELECTIVELY USABLE POINTED PRONGS DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER, SAID HEAD MEANS EMBODYING A SHEATH SLIDABLE AND ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO SAID PIKE AND HAVING COMPONENT PORTIONS IN WHICH THE PRONGS OF SAID PIKE ARE NORMALLY SHEATHED AND SAFELY CONCEALED WHEN RETRACTED. 